Feed-valve device



Jan. 31, 192s.

C. C. FARMER FEED VALVE DEVICE Filed Nov. 12

19N Mh. mmv W` u il mxujmmn.

@N bv INVENTQR come; C,F'ARMER v ATTORNEY Patented Jan, 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES;

CLYDE C. FARMER, 0F PITTFJBURGH, PENNSYLVA'J HOUSE AIR BRAKE GG'dE'AI'-Z, Gl? VIILMERDENG,

PENNSYLVNIA.

u., AESIGNOR T0 THE WESTINGr- VILVANA, A CORPORATION FEED-VALVE DEVICE.

Application filed November This invention relates to fluid pressure brakes and in particular to that type Wherein the brales are controlled by the operation or.t a` brake valve device.

lilith the standard type ot fluid pressure brakes, a service application is inode by first nioving` the brake valve handle to service position to effect the desired reduction in bralre pipe pressure, and then said handle is moved to lap position.

There is incre or less leakage oit the liuid under pressure iroin the brallre pipe, by Way of hose coupling gaskets or at pipe joints, so that ai'ter an application oit the brakes and with the brake valve device in lap position, such leal will cause a` further reduction in brake pipe pressure and consequently a t'iuther undesired application ci' the brakes.

The principal object oi iny invention is to provide means for inaintaining` the bralre pipe pressure against leakage, While the bralres are applied.

ln the accoinpanying` drawing; Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, mainly in section, of a fluid pressure bralreequipineut. embodying,r my invention; and F 2 a diagrammatic development oit the brake valve device or the construction shoivn in Fig. 1, showing the various operatingv positions.

iliccordinpl to the drawing, the fluid pressure bralre equipment may comprise the usual brakev valve device 1, a maintaining valve device 2, a Yfeed valve device 3, a inain reservoir 4, and an equalizing reservoir 5.

rlhe bralre valve device 1 may coinprise a casing, having a chamber 6 in communica tion with lthe inain reservoir l and containing a rotary valve 7, adapted to bev operated by ineans oi' a handle 8.

The brake valve device also includes an cqualizinp; piston 9, having at one side a chamber 10 adapted to be connected to the equalizinp; reservoir 5 in certain positions `ot theu rotary valve 7, and at the opposite side a chamber 11 in constant communication with the bral'e pipe 12. The equalizinp; piston 9 is adapted to operate a discharge valve 13 which in turn controls communication from chamber 11 to the atmosphere.

Associated with the bralte valve device `l is a maintaining valve device 2 which may comprise a casing, having a pistou chamber' 1/1 containinga piston 15 and a valve chainber 16 containing a slide valve 17, adapted to be a. ieee. sei-iai no. 147,913.

operated by piston for controlling the supply oiY fluid from the main reservoir through pipe 18 to the brakevalve device 1.

The maintaining valve device 2 also includes a regulating` valve device, comprising a regulating valve 19 contained in a chamber 2O connected to piston chamber 14e by passage 21, and a derrible diaphragm 22 forv operatingl said valve. ject on one side to the pressure ot fluid in the equalizingv reservoir 5 and also to the pressure of a spring- 23, and has chamber 2i at the opposite side i 25 to pipe 1S.

lu operation, with the brake device 1 in running position as shown, iiuid under pressure from the main reservoir 4 flows through pipes 26 and 27 to the feed valve device 3, which is adjusted to suppl-y fluid at the standard pressure carried in the brake pipe 12. Fluid at the reduced pressure then Hows through pipe` and passage 28, cavity 29 in the rotary valve 7 of the brake valve device l, and passage 30 to the brake pipe 12, so that the bralre pipe pressure is maintained in .running position of the brake valve device, iu tue usual Way.

Fluid at brake pipe pressure from passage 30 iloivsthrough passage 31., cavity 32 in the rotary valve 7, and passage into cham-ber 10 at one side oil the equalizing piston 9, `While chamber 11, at the opposite side, is connected through passage 341 to ther brake pipe 12. The duid pressures thus being equal on opposite sides of the equalizinpb` piston 9, lsaid piston is held in the position seatingthel discharge valve 13, as shown in the drawing, due to said valve being exposed to atmospheric pressure. i

The equelif/.ing` reservoir-5 being connected through pipes and 36 and passage 37 with cavity in the rota-ry valve 7, said reservoir is also charged with fluid at brake pipe pressure.

Fluid at equalizing reservoir pressure is supplied through pipe to chamber 38- an acts upon the diaphragm 22.

Fluid at niain reservoir pressure is supplied through pipe 26 to 'alve chamber 16 of the maintaining; valve device 2, and from chamber 16, iiuid is suppliedthrough pas 39 and a choke plug et() to passage 21 ai'ul piston chamber 141, so that with the regulat-ing valve 19 sea-ted, the fluid pressure connected through passage Said. diaphragm is subequalizes on opposite sides of the piston 15, permitting the springs 41 and 42 to maintain said piston and the slide valve 17 in the normal position, as shown in Fig. l.

A service application of the brakes is et- `lected by moving the brake valve handle 8 to service application position, in which fluid is vented from the equalizing reservoir in the usual manner. ritter the etpializing reser voir pressure has been reduced the desired amount, the brake valve handle S is moved to lap position. The reduction in equalizing reservoir pressure on the equalizing piston 9 permits the brake pipepressure on the opposite side oit said piston to lift same and open the discharge valve 13, so that iiuid is vented from the brake pipe 12. Fluid continues to be vented trom the brake pipe until the brake pipe pressure acting in chamber 11, at one side ot the equalizing piston 9, is reduced to a degree slightly less than the reduced equalizing reservoir pressure in chamber 10, when piston f) operates to close the valve 13.

With the brake valve device in lap position, any leakage from the b 'ake pipe l2 tends to cause a further reduction in brake pipe pressure. To prevent brake pipe leakage from effecting a tui-ther application ot the brakes, as described above, the brake valve handle 8 is moved from lap position to a special additional position, termed maintaining position, after the discharge valve 13 has closed.

In maintaining position of the brake valve device 1, passage 33 is cut off 'trom cominunication with the equalizing reservoir 5, and connects only with the chamber 10 at one side of the equalizing piston 9, thus preventing the possibility of iiuid from the equalizing reservoir 5 leaking past the ring 43 in the equalizing piston l), to the brake pipe and decreasing with the brake pipe pressure as said brake pipe pressure is effected by leakage.

Passage Jfrom the equalizing reservoir 5 is also lapped by the rotary valve 7, in maintaining position of the brake valve handle 8, thereby isolating said reservoir so `that the pressure therein and in chamber 38 ot the maintaining valve device 2, remains constant and at the pressure obtained at the time the equalizing reservoir pressure is reduced in making a service application of the brakes.

In maintaining position, the brake pipe 12 is connected through passage 31 and a cavity in the rotary valve 7 to passage 44, thence through pipe 18, ports 45 in the Venturi tube 46, and passage 25 to chamber 24 at one side of the diaphragm 22. Thus brake pipe pressure in chamber 24 opposes equalizing reservoir pressure in spring chamber 23, on the opposite side of diaphragm 22.

If there is no brake pipe leakage, the brake pipe pressure in chamber 24 holds the diavdiaphragm 22 phragm 22 in the position shown in the drawing, against the equalizing reservoir pressure acting at the opposite side oit said diaphagm, and consequently the regulating valve 19 remains closed.

It there is leakage from the brake pipe l2, and the brake pipe pressure is thereby reduced, the reduced pressure in c :hainbcr 2t permits the equalizing reservoir pressure in spring chamber 3S to deflect the diaphragm 22 so as to unseat the regulatingl valve if) against the pressure oli spring 4T.

Piston chamber 14 being connected through passage 21 to chamber 20, fluid in chamber 14 is vented to the brake pipe 12 at a rate faster than supplied through the choke 40, from the fluid at main reservoir pressure in chamber 16, thus causing a lowering oit the pressure in chamber 14. The main reservoir pressure in valve chamber 16, acting on the opposite side of piston 15, then causes said piston to shift against the reduced preiv'sru'e in piston chamber 14 and against the pres sure of the springs 41 and 42.

The movement oi the piston 1:5 causes movement ot the slide valve 17, so that the ports 48 register with the ports 49 in the .el idc valve seat and permit fluid at main reservoir pressure :troni valve chamber 1G to flow te chamber 50, thence through the Venturi tube 46 into pipe 18 and to the brake pipe 12 through passage 44 and a cavity in the rctary valve 7, thus causing the brake pipe pressure to be increased.

The amount oi opening ci. the regulating valve 19 varies according to the degree et brake pipe leakage and consequent rate et flow through the Venturi tube 4G, since as the rate oit lloiv through said Venturi tube increases, the Well known venturi action causes a corresponding increase in the rate of flow from chamber 24, at the face oit diaphragm 22, and a consequent increased movement o by the equalizing reservoir pressure, and resulting in an increased opening movement of the regulating valve 19.

Increasing the opening movement of the valve 19, as above described, causes an increased 1ate of flow from piston chamber 14 to the brake pipe, and consequently the piston 15 tends to move so preach full registration of the ports 4S with the ports 49, and a consequent more rapid flow of uid from the main reservoir to the brake pipe to compensate for a greater brake pipe leakage.

lt should be noted that the maintaining I'alve device 2 is located between the main reservoir 4 and the brake valve device 1, so that main reservoir pressure is constantly ciiective un the supply piston 15. It the maintaining valve device were located between the brake valve device and the brake pipe, so that the brake valve device permitted the flow of: fluid at main reservoir FID lll() as to more nearly appressure to valve chamber 16 of the maintaining valve device only in maintaining position of said brake valve device, the sudden increase oi pressure in valve chamber le, upon said brake valve movement, would cause the piston l 'to shift the slide valve 't7 so as to cause a full registration ot ports t8 with ports 49 and a consequent sudden flow or fluid from the main reservoir to the brake pipe, with the result that the brake pipe pressure would be momentarily increased to a higher pressure than in the equalizing reservoir 5, with the result that some ol the brakes on the train might be released. lith the maintaining valve device located between the main reservoir and the brake valve device, the maintaining valve device is constantly subject to fluid at main reservoir pressure, so that the above undesired action is prevented.

The addition of the maintaining valve device 2 to a fluid pressure brake equipmentV does not interfere with the usual operation of the equipment in any Way and is operative only in a position ot the brake valve device l, other than the usual operating positions oi said brake valve device.

Having now described my invention, What l claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

l. In a fluid pressure brake, thev combination with a main reservoir, a brake pipe, a brake valve device having a brake pipe pressure maintaining position, and an equalizing reservoir, of a valve device for maintaining the pressure in the brake pipe comprising a valve for supplying liuid under pressure to the brake pipe, only in the brake pipe pressure maintaining position of said brake valve device, a movable abutment for operating said valve and subject on one side at all times to fluid at main reservoir pressure and having the opposite side supplied With fluid from the main reservoir through a restricted port, and mea-ns controlled by the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and the equalizing reservoir for venting fluid from one side of said movable abutment.

2. In a fluid pressure brake, the combination With a main reservoir, brake pipe, brake valve device, and an equalizing reservoir, of a valve device for maintaining the pressure in the brake pipe comprising a valve for supplying fluid from the main reservoir to the brake pipe, a movable abutment for operating said valve and constantly subject on `one side to fluid at main reservoir pressure and having apassage for supplying fluid from the main reservoir to the opposite side, and means subject to the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and the equalizing reservoir for controlling the operation of said abutment.

3. In a fluid pressure brake, the combination with a main reservoir, a brake pipe, a brake valve device having a position for maintaining the pressure in the brake pipe, and an equalizing reservoir, of a valve device for maintaining the pressure in the brake pipe through a communication open to the brake pipe only in the maintaining position of the brake valve device and comprising a valve for controlling the supply of Huid from the main reservoir to the brake pipe, a movable abutment for operating said valve having one side constantly subject to main reservoir pressure and having a passage for supplying fluid at main reservoir pressure to the opposite side,`and regulating means subject to the opposing pressures of the brake pipe and said equalizing reservoir for controlling the operation of said movable abutment.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. a

x CLYDE C. FARMER. 

